CORONA DEL MAR

1996 RECORD: 4-6 overall, 1-4 in league

COACH: Dick Freeman (13-10 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 4 on offense, 7 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Tyler Brower, OL/DL, 5-11, 208, Sr.; Ryan Cooper, WR/DB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Mike Finn, WR/DB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Mark Hatfield, TE/LB, 6-0, 210, Jr.; Nick Hood, QB/DE, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Seth Richardson, LB, 6-3, 215, Jr.; Justin Shea, OL/DL, 6-3, 230, Jr.; Tim Thurman, TE/LB, 6-5, 230, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Dennis Alshuler, QB, 6-4, 190, Jr.; Blake Bentley, LB, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Alex Bottom, OL, 6-5, 215, Jr.; Mychael Henry, WR/DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Tom Hildebrandt, WR/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Nate Lemmerman, RB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Craig Levine, RB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Hunter MacDonald, WR/DB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Marshall Rothwell, RB/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Brett Wiseman, OL/DE, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Steve Witt, OL/DL, 6-1, 232, Jr.

OUTLOOK

The offense’s strength is its receiving corps, Thurman, Cooper and Finn. The task of getting the ball to the receivers falls on Hood, who started at defensive end last season and is a scrambler, and Alshuler, who is a dropback passer. They could both play, which could create confusion for opposing defenses. The problem is protection. Only Shea and Brower have appreciable experience. Levine and Lemmerman are the leading candidates at running back, but they have only seven varsity carries between them. The defense will be anchored by Hatfield, who started as a sophomore and heads a solid group of linebackers, along with Brower. The secondary includes Henry, a transfer from Huntington Beach whose speed could also be a boon offensively.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 12 vs. Marina at Newport Harbor HS; 19 vs. Costa Mesa at Orange Coast College; 26 vs. Canyon at El Modena HS.

Oct. 3 vs. Saddleback at Orange Coast College; 10 vs. Orange Lutheran at Cal State Fullerton; 17 vs. Santa Margarita at Newport Harbor HS; 23 at Irvine; 30 vs. Woodbridge at Newport Harbor HS.

Nov. 7 vs. El Toro at Trabuco Hills HS; 14 at Newport Harbor.